CRISPR: The Real-Life Science of Bioshock

2007’s Bioshock is one of my favourite games. Set in the truly awe-inspiring dystopian underwater city of Rapture, the game evokes science fiction elements as well as a 1950’s design aesthetic to create an incredible and unique experience. The plot itself is centred on ubiquitous genetic manipulation technology which is not only possible in the world of Bioshock but is widespread and commercialized. Inhabitants of Rapture can spend their hard-earned cash on “plasmids”. These are upgrades to the user’s genetic code, which confer unbelievable new abilities like telekinesis and fire manipulation.

Playing the game for the first time a few years ago, I thought this gene editing technology was purely the stuff of fiction, but as it turns out, we are closer to real-life splicing than you might think.

What is a plasmid?

Despite sounding like a made-up science word, plasmids are a vital part of biological research today. Plasmids are circular strands of DNA which, like their Bioshock counterparts, confer a new ability on the host. They are mostly used for research in bacterial cells and can grant the host resistance to antibiotics, the ability to break down certain sugars and more. They are also used in the food and drink industry. Yeasts used in brewing often have several plasmids, designed to make them perform better during fermentation of beer.

Bioshock’s “plasmids” allow the player to wield amazing abilities such as electricity manipulation

As real as plasmids are, injecting them straight into a human host (like we see in the game) simply won’t work. In fact, it could be dangerous. Human cells don’t naturally possess plasmid DNA, and this limits their usefulness in human cells to lab tests only. However, there are other methods for gene manipulation.

CRISPR

Real-life gene editing has come about through CRISPR technology. Originally discovered as a bacterial defence system against viruses, CRISPR systems have been adapted for modification of DNA. The field is still in its infancy, as the first CRISPR-based DNA editing system was described in 2012. Because DNA is the “instruction booklet” for an organism, editing the DNA code can modify the organism itself. CRISPR gene editing works by grabbing foreign DNA sequences and integrating them into the host DNA. This technology has incredible potential in medicine, from curing cystic fibrosis to treating HIV and AIDS.

In fact, not only will we be able to edit our DNA very soon, we will also be able to know our entire genetic code. The first human genome was sequenced in the early 2000’s at a cost of $3 billion. Today, human genomes can be sequenced in hours for less than $1000. In ten years’ time, you may walk into your GP’s office with the early stages of congenital heart failure and emerge with a brand new, “repaired” genome.

CRISPR-based genome editing works by grabbing foreign DNA and integrating it into the host genome.

How close is Bioshock’s science to reality?

Unfortunately, while CRISPR technology is incredibly exciting for medicine, it is limited by what is biologically possible. We may cure genetic diseases, cancers and even ageing with CRISPR, but there is no gene for shooting bees out of your wrist, or creating a miniature tornado. Sorry Bioshock fans, you could be waiting a while on those.

For a concise and in-depth description of what CRISPR gene editing will mean for the future of medicine, I suggest checking out the video below.

Games writer, former Games and Tech Editor for tn2magazine.ie, and a fan of great stories in games. My favourites include the Kingdom Hearts and Uncharted series, as well as Red Dead Redemption and Bioshock. I mostly play on PS4 and Switch, but I also have some thing called a Vita? Yeah I've never heard of it either.